University of Birmingham Air Squadron

 

Flying on UBAS

Flying is a voluntary activity on UBAS. Notionally 10 hrs per annum per student is available, subject to aircraft and instructor availability.  However, as some students choose not to fly often, individual students may be able to take up this spare time, thus making it possible to gain more than 10 hrs per annum.

There is a recommended syllabus (see below) and students may opt to follow the syllabus, including the associated solo flying if they choose.  Successful completion of this course may, in part, be used towards the attainment of a civilian PPL. Alternatively, students may wish to limit the syllabus they follow, confining themselves to air experience flying, or indeed may avoid flying altogether.

Our Aircraft

We Fly the Grob 115E (otherwise known as the Grob Tutor), which is a 2 Seater Fully aerobatic, Propeller Driven aircraft. For more details on the Grob 115E, click here.

Flying Syllabus

If the decision to follow the flying syllabus is made, then the student can expect to complete the following sorties:

  1. Familiarisation 0:30 (dual)

  2. Effects of Controls 1 0:45 (dual)

  3. Effects of Controls 2 0:45 (dual)

  4. Straight & Level 1 0:45 (dual)

  5. Straight & Level 2 0:45 (dual)

  6. Climbing & Descending 1/Medium Turns 1:15 (dual)

  7. Climbing and Descending 2 1:00 (dual)

  8. Stalling 1 1:00 (dual)

  9. Stalling 2 1:00 (dual)

  10. Circuits 1:00 (dual)

  11. Circuits 1:00 (dual)

  12. Circuits – First Solo 0:30 (dual) 0:05 (solo)

  13. Circuits - Dual/Solo 0:30 (dual) 0:30 (solo)

  14. Circuits - Dual/Solo 0:30 (dual) 0:30 (solo)

  15. Circuits - Dual/Solo 0:30 (dual) 0:30 (solo)

  16. Forced Landings 1:00 (dual)

  17. Forced Landings 1:00 (dual)

  18. Sector Recognition 0:50 (dual)

  19. Solo Sector Recognition 1:00 (solo)

  20. Steep Turns 0:50 (dual)

  21. Solo GH 1:00 (solo)

  22. Basic Instrument Flying 1:00 (dual)

  23. Solo GH 1:00 (solo)

  24. Basic Instrument Flying 1:00 (dual)

  25. Solo GH 1:00 (solo)

  26. Navigation 1:00 (dual)

  27. Solo GH 1:00 (solo)

  28. Navigation (Land away) 1:15 (dual)

  29. Navigation (RTB) 1:15 (dual)

  30. Navigation 1:15 (dual)

  31. Solo Navigation 1:15 (solo)

 Other Flying

It is sometimes possible for students to gain air experience flights in a wide range of RAF aircraft.  These flights most frequently occur during Summer Vacation Attachments, although can happen at other times during the year on a merit basis.  Recent trips have involved Eurofighter Typhoons (see photos on right) and Red Arrows' Hawks.